The nest is finished.
It is perfect.
It is just the right size and shape.
The mother robin settles into it and sits quietly.
She lays an egg.
It is smooth and blue."
I fear I have seen my last robin for this year. As the weather has cooled over the past few weeks, only a very few have visited the backyard. I will miss them. But, come spring, they will be back and ready to rebuild their nest as they do every year.
This informative story of a returning robin begins with a spring song. The song attracts a mate; the two find an ideal spot for a nest, and their work begins. It isn't long until hard work and diligent attention to detail has created a welcome home for four smooth, blue eggs. Patient nesting begins to keep the eggs warm, and the baby birds growing.
The constant care doesn't end until those babies hatch, are fed and protected, grow and leave the nest, each in its own time. Soon, they can fly to any chosen destination. They note the changing weather, and instinctively know they are ready to survive winter together in warmer climes. They will be back!
Using Micron pens and acrylic paints, Henry Cole adds little color (save the striking blue of the eggs) to illustrate this fine story of one robin pair and their eventful summer. These detailed images bring his simple story to life for young readers and will be much appreciated by those who share his book. Changes in perspective hold a child's interest, and an author's note presents further facts about the American robin.
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